Crossover Cover: The Rook

Myfanwy Thomas is a member of the Checquy, a British agency dedicated to protecting the world from supernatural threats. She writes letters to her future self after hearing a prophecy she will lose her memories soon. Mentioned in the letters are: Brigadoon; Groke; Scabmettler; Marshwiggle; Hattifattener; Panwere; Flukeman; Morlock; Aufwader; Balrog; cat in shoes; creepy blond kids wandering around in Winshire; talking mice that infested Lewisham; a two-door wardrobe in the spare room of a country house; and a couturier in Gloucestershire who had been imprisoned for using rodents as indentured servants. Brigadoon is from Alan Jay Lerner and Frederick Loewe’s titular musical. The Groke and the Hattifatteners are from Tove Jansson’s Moomin books. The Scabmettlers are from China Miéville’s novels about the fantasy world of Bas-Lag. Marshwiggles and the two-door wardrobe are from C. S. Lewis’ Narnia books. The Panweres mentioned here must be CU versions of the race seen in Laurell K. Hamilton’s Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter books, which take place in an alternate reality where the world is aware vampires and other supernatural beings really do exist. The Flukeman is from “The Host,” an episode of The X-Files. Morlocks are from H. G. Wells’ The Time Machine; since they are mentioned as having visited Bath before the events of this book, a group of Morlocks must have traveled or been transported back in time from their native era. Aufwaders are from Robin Jarvis’ Whitby Witches books, while the talking mice in Lewisham are a reference to Jarvis’ Deptford Mice series. Balrogs are from J. R. R. Tolkien’s fantasy saga The Lord of the Rings. Cat in shoes is a reference to the fairy tale Puss in Boots. The creepy blond kids wandering around Winshire are from John Wyndham’s book The Midwich Cuckoos. The couturier in Gloucestershire who used rodents as indentured servants is a reference to Beatrix Potter’s children’s book The Tailor of Gloucester.